Gwame

So I've been looking to buy a new road bike somewhere in the 1200-1500 euro price range. I've spotted a used but very good condition Felt AR4 2012 for 1300. Aero bike with Ultegra groupset, though older so 10sp. Though I think it's limited to 23mm wheels.

Alternatively I may go for a Vitus Zenium CR. 11sp 105 groupset with disc brakes but maybe 1 or 2kg heavier and less aero. Also would cost a couple hundred more.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Cyclist0108

I would tend to go for new over used, but used should give you more bang for the Euro. Remember, when you are buying used, you aren't paying for a warranty that you would get if buying new. As an approximation, I estimate the warranty to be worth about 1/3 the price of the frame.

Also, in this particular example, I would prefer the option of being able to install wider tires, and I would rather have disc brakes. 10 vs. 11 speed shouldn't really make any difference, but it is a good reminder that the drive train is old, so you might have to replace parts (chains and cassettes and sometimes chainrings on the crank will need to be replaced, so you might have to add that into the price of the used bike).

oris

New is better in this case.

2012 is quite a while back and you'd be missing out on things like wider tire clearances and disc brakes which makes riding more enjoyable.

shelbyfv

If you mean 23mm tires that would rule it out for me, the bike world has moved on. The Vitus looks really nice. Hydraulic discs, thru axles, full 7000 group, clearance for 32mm tires.

Gwame

So it seems. My current road bike is an old one with 23mm tires but I've read that going wider is more comfortable.

The bike world may have moved on, but it's moved in quite a lot of directions. The scope of choice makes it hard to choose. In terms of a mid-range carbon road bike, there's also the Boardman SLR 8.9 which is a few 100 cheaper and has a lighter, aero frame. Though it drops back to rim brakes.

Then there's the adventure bikes with smaller wheels but bigger, treaded tires in case of rougher terrain. How's a guy meant to choose??

Koyote

An eight-year old bike is worth very little on the market, so it should be priced at a tiny fraction of a new bike -- certainly well below 1300 Euro for that bike, I would think, unless the European market is somehow very different than the US.

Gwame

Maybe I'm romanticising it, but the specs are still quite good. The thing purports to weigh about 7.8kg and is designed strongly for aero. I just picture myself getting places twice as fast and half as tired.

Koyote

If you like it, and you like the price, that's what really matters. And I don't know the Euro market. But here in the US, bikes depreciate very rapidly.

Cyclist0108

Unless you are VERY different from me physiologically, your speed on the two bikes will be very similar.

Seattle Forrest

Adding to this, it's been a very long time since Ultegra was 10 speed. Sooner or later most components will wear out, in several years it'll be harder to find the right replacement parts. (I use an 11 speed, 12-28 T cassette, someday when the world is 15 speed, the only 11 I can find might be an 11-25.)

That's not a deal breaker by itself, but add it to the other issues, mainly narrow tires and rim brakes, and I'd also go newer.

Also, the most important thing is to get a bike that fits you.

Dean V

That generation of Shimano is also considered to be the worst as far as shifting goes.
I wouldn't go older than 11 sp and a frame that can take at least a big 25mm tyre, unless the roads you ride on a very smooth.

rubiksoval

I wouldn't buy that model Felt. I'd at least try to get one from 2014 onwards. Completely redesigned.

Plus the 11 speed is significantly better than that 10 speed.

Branko D

Used is generally a better bang for the buck, but I'd want 11 speed, myself, and the 2014 model is a bit dated.

A friend of mine bought a wicked looking 2016 or so Felt AR just recently, with deep FFWD wheels, granted for double the pricetag but, wow, what a bike.

eduskator

Mid-range new if the high-end used is too old. Technology evolves too rapidly.

WhyFi

You are romanticizing it. Big time. You're giving "aero" and a kg or so waaaay too much credit.

A decade-old, early aero road frame design that was likely a mild re-hash their TT bike and rides like it. Limited to 23mm tires (less than 28mm tire clearance is a non-starter in my book). The 10-speed, sluggish, cable-eating 6700-series. 1300 Euro? Nah - I personally wouldn't buy it at half the price.

I've never heard of the Zenium prior to this, but it's a nice looking bike - clean lines, modern look with the dropped stays, and can accommodate 32mm tires. 7000-series is great - shifts well, brakes superbly. The wheels are probably place-holders, but that's the case for most <$2500 bikes. At the price, it actually looks like a very good value.

shelbyfv

Agree that 6700 would be a big negative. I had both 7900 and 6700 shifters and they both sucked and died early. Shimano's first attempt at under bar wrap cable routing. I was happy to go back to smooth 6600 on my 10 speed bike.

drewtk

I would only buy a high end used bike if it was from the past few years. Speaking of which, theproscloset.com is a good site for these types of bikes.

nycphotography

I personally prefer neither of the bikes you have listed, so I won't comment on them specifically.

Generally however, if money is a limiter, I would go for high end used over new, with one big caveat. I personally have gone with a combination of used (frames and wheels) and new (components) to build up my last 2 or 3 bikes. I could have bought new, but just didn't feel like spending what I felt would be wasted money.

CAREFULLY inspect the frame and accept NO damage that could be structural. IE, scuffs and scrapes maybe, but nothing resembling a crack or dent or deformation of any kind.

The same day you take it home, replace the chain, maybe the brake pads, get the derailleurs adjusted, and get the wheels not just trued but fully re-tensioned,

Every single other component can be replaced if broken or upgraded, generally at used prices from ebay.

Iride01 

If I had no recent experience with road bikes, I might go the for the inexpensive new bikes first. Ride it for a year or two and learn what I like and don't like, then buy another bike in a higher tier group than the previous bike. And so on as I move up the chain.

If money isn't an issue at all, and you won't think twice about throwing the new bike away and going to something else, then buy as much as you can afford.

If you aren't a DIY type and like to fiddle with stuff to no end, then I'd go new. If bought locally from a shop, they'll take care of you after the purchase, usually for little cost if all that is needed is an adjustment.

MinnMan

In the general question of new vs. used, much depends on your skills to evaluate the condition of a used bike (just because it looks clean doesn't mean that there aren't hidden problems) and to evaluate size and fit.

Gwame

Thanks for all the replies. Seems the consensus is that €1300 (could be less if I can negotiate down, but still) is far too much for an 8 year old bike. I've already arranged a viewing, so I'll inspect it just for the sake of it anyway.

In terms of buying a new bike, money is a bit of an issue. I was hoping to avail of a Cycle-to-Work scheme, where my job and government allow a bike to be purchased tax free if it's for work purposes, saving me up to 52%. But this only allows for new bikes purchased from locally owned stores, the likes of which currently have no stock. So I'm in a bit of a bind.

I may just purchase the Zenium CR new from CRC/Wiggle. It's €1340 for the 2020 model and €1660 for the 2021 model. I see no differences other than colour scheme. Only caveat is the 2020 model is only available in a small frame. They say that supports 5'6 riders, but I'm 5'8. Not sure how much of a difference that would make, and whether it would be worth the extra €320 to go medium. Especially whether some other manufacturers cite the small frame size as going up to 5'8.
If you have a better option in mind in the €1500 or below price range, I'd be delighted to hear it. There are countless options so I'm sure I've missed some. As I said in a previous post, I was looking at the Boardman SLR 8.9 which is only €1180, and has basically all the same specs as the Zenium CR, only with rim brakes instead, but a lighter aero frame. Or they have an option to add disc brakes for an extra €600.

Also from Vitus is the Substance CRS-1. This is more of an 'adventure' style bike, supporting 650/700 wheels, and tire clearance up to 47mm + tubeless ready. Price point is similar, but the negative is the SRAM Apex groupset.

impolexg

I agree completely. Given depreciation on new bikes you will get a significantly better bicycle for the price on the used market, but only if you know enough to avoid dogs. Don't buy something that you haven't ridden and check the entire frame very carefully for cracks - literally you should take 10 minutes checking for cracks with a rag and a flashlight. Don't buy something you dont love. That Felt... meh... aluminum aero? Shirley you can do better than that?

Typical around here you can score a gorgeous 11 speed bike that was $3-6k new for less than $1500. Assuming you love it then it is a bargain. Expect it to depreciate another $500 when you go to resell it in five years. A new $1500 bike won't be very nice at all and when you go to resell in 5 years you'll lose even more.

Here's the used bike I just bought for $1500. King hubs and bb. Swapped the pedals, 46 bars and seat from my old bike, stem is too short. New bike is much nicer to ride, love the gear range and shifters but I'm a slug so my speed is the same.

Gwame

The Felt is carbon, not aluminium. And I do plan on inspecting the bike, even though I probably won't take it. I'm only in the bike game about 6 months so I don't know everything, but if you could give a quick rundown on inspecting a used road bike, I'd really appreciate it!

WhyFi

^^^if that's typical for $1500 in your area, then you should count yourself fortunate, and maybe consider a new career buying used bikes and then selling to them to those in other regions for a nice profit.

tomato coupe

Better to buy high-end used or mid-range new?

I'd compromise and buy high-end new.